Draft gear



June 16, 1925.

W. J. REGAN DRAFT GEAR Filed June 2. 1925 rlllllll performs a buffing operation.

posed forwardly extending projection 11 adapted to extend into the opening G of the casing and to engage the plate 7 by which said opening is bridged. By this means the removable closure member 7 is well supported againstbending during buffing operations and concentration of the buiing forces on the areas of the rear end of the casing engagingv the back-stop is avoided.

The yoke device has a pair of horizontally alined arms 12 between which the rear end of the stem of the coupler 1 is received and to which draft strains are transmitted from the coupler through the connecting key 3. These arms, which preferably are spaced apart a distance somewhat greater than the width of the interposed portion of the coupler and are provided with elongated slots 13 in which the key 3 travels rearwardly in buffing, terminate in advance of the forward end of the casing 4 so as to afford space for the reception and operationof follower 14 4which is forced toward the casing el when the. coupler l llhe slotted arms 12 are integrally united in advance of the casing by vertically alined webs 15 which also form integral connections with the casing 4. The webs 15 preferably extend forwardly only substantially to the outer ends of the slots 13 and their forward portions may, as shown, converge toward said slots. 1

The follower 14 is movably mounted between and projects laterally beyond the webs 'l5 in interposed relation to the coupler 1 and the forward end lof the casing 4f. When the coupler is disconnected from the yoke device the arms 12, whose rear ends extend across the forward face of the follower 14, provide means carried by the yoke device for limiting the forward movement of the follower so as to retain it in assembled relation to the casing t and the cushioning unit contained therein. `The outer ends of the follower Iare adapted to cooperate in draft with follower stops or draft lugs 16 securely riveted to the sills 9. The follower stops and the sills 9 are provided with slots 17 allowing the coupler connecting key 3 to travel back and forth with the coupler. The `key 3, which is preferably provided at one end with a lug or head 1S, may conveniently be retained in'assembled position in a well known manner by means of a collar or washer 19 aud a cotter 20.

By my invention a combined draft yoke and friction casing formed as .an integral casting-may be provided without unduly increasing the size of the device, while yet enabling the friction casing to be made of comparatively great length.

I claim 1. A draft gear involving a yoke device provided with a casing and having a pair of horizontally alined slotted arms terminating at their rear ends in spaced relation to the forward end of said casing, said arms being integrally united in advance of said casing by vertically alined webs extending forwardly from and integrally united to said casing and adapted to transmit draft strains from said arms to said casing, said webs converging at their forward ends and terminating adjacent the forward ends of the slots of said arms, a follower movably mounted between said webs in advance of said casing and to the rear of said arms, a car` coupler extending between said arms and movable longitudinally with respect to said yoke `device, and a key operatively connecting said coupler and arms for transmitting draft strains to the latter, said casing having an opening at its rear end and being provided with a detachable closure for said opening.

2. A draft gear involving a yoke device provided with a casing and having a pair of oppositely disposed arms provided with alined key receiving slots, said arms terminating` at their rear ends in advance of said casing and in spaced relation to the latter and being integrally united to said casing and to each other by spaced webs adapted to receive the stem of a car coupler between them, said' casing having an opening at its rear end and being provided with a detachable closure for said opening', a car coupler extending between said arms and webs and movable longitudinally with respect thereto, a key extending through said coupler and through said slotted arms for transmitting draft strains from said coupler to said yoke.

device, and a follower movably mounted between and projecting beyond said webs in interposed relation to said coupler and the forward end of said casing, said arms being adapted to limit longitudinal movement of said follower away from said casing.

3. A draft gear involving a yoke device provided with a casing and having a pair of arms. adapted to receive the stem of a car coupler between them, said arms being integrally united to said casing and having lalined key receiving slots, a car coupler extending between said arms and movable longitudinally with respect thereto, a key extending through said coupler and entering the slots of said arms, and va follower in advance of said casing movably mounted be` tween and projecting laterally beyond said arms, said casing having an opening at its rear end and being slotted adjacent said opening to receive a plate forming a removable closure for said opening.

et.` A draft gear involving a yoke device provided with a casing and having a pair of arms adapted to receive the stem of a car coupler between them, said arms being rigidly united to said casing andrhaving alined key receiving slots therein, a car coupler extending between said arms and movable longitudinally with respect thereto, anda. key extending through said coupler and said slots `for transmitting draft strains to said arms, said easingr havingr an opening at its rear end and being provided with a removable closure nieinber brldglng said opening and being adapted to engage a back stop which is carried by the sills of the car and is provided with a centrally disposed projec- 10 tion adapted to extend into said opening behind said closure member.

In testimony whereof I aHiX inv signature.

WILLIAM J. REGAN. 

